Issue #9 ENB on the side – UNFCCC COP-9
PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT (IISD) in cooperation with UNFCCC
Written by:
Fiona Koza
Karen Alvarenga de Oliveira
Kaori Kawarabayashi
Catherine Ganzleben, Ph.D
Lauren Flejzor
Managing Director:
Langston James Goree VI "Kimo"
Volume 13, Issue #9
Thursday, 11 December 2003
The WWW version of ENB on the side (with photos), can be
found at http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop9/enbots/
Events convened on Wednesday, 10 December 2003
Title: Getting there: Tackling transport emissions
Presented by the UNFCCC
Simon Upton, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and
Development (OECD), emphasized that the transport sector is one of
largest contributors to emissions growth and is a sector that
should be prioritized in emission mitigation activities.
Addressing lifestyle changes to reduce transport emissions, Emil
Frankel, US Department of Transportation, explained that people
want the mobility and flexibility that automobiles provide. He
highlighted the role of government intervention, especially in
funding research and development.
Jonathan Pershing, World Resources Institute, noted the importance
of fuel prices in considering transport emissions reductions, and
stated that technologies to reduce transport emissions exist but
are not being fully utilized.
Hermann Meyer, European Automobile Manufacturers Association,
highlighted the technological potential for increasing fuel
efficiency, and underscored the need to alter driving behavior to
reduce emissions, and focus on fuel quality, alternative fuels
such as hydrogen, and least-cost approaches.
Masayuki Sasamouchi, Toyota, noted that when developing new
technologies, there is a need to balance between economic and
ecological demands.
Noting the existence of technologies to reduce transport
emissions, Charles Nicholson, British Petroleum, identified the
need for political and societal acceptance of the technologies,
and for incentives to implement them.
Wei Zhihong, Tsinghua University, noted that China lacks the
capacity to produce compressed natural gas engines and therefore
must import the engines. He stated that the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) is important for raising funds for developing
clean fuel in China.
Prodipto Ghosh, Ministry of Environment and Forests of India,
highlighted the importance of incentive-based policies in India.
He recommended taking a holistic view, and suggested telecommuting
and videoconferencing to reduce transport emissions.
Jeff Passmore, Iogen Energy, recommended considering energy
conservation from a tax perspective, and examining vehicles and
fuels in complementary ways in order to achieve greenhouse gas
reductions.
Margot Wallström, Commissioner for the Environment of the European
Commission, underscored the importance of financial and economic
incentives to change lifestyles in a way that will reverse
transport emissions trends.
Martina Priebe, Air Transport Action Group, noted that operational
measures such as satellite technology to address costs and delays
in the transport sector can also reduce transport emissions.
Werner Brög, Socialdata, explained the difference between Òhard
policiesÓ which provide transportation alternatives and Òsoft
policiesÓ which aim to change individualÕs mindsets about
transportation. He emphasized that soft policies are cheaper and
faster to implement.
Magnus Nilsson, European Federation for Transport and Environment,
underscored the importance of changing existing fiscal and legal
frameworks to allow people to act in ways that would reduce
transport emissions.
Björn Stigson, World Business Council for Sustainable Development,
noted the challenges of influencing consumer behavior, since
individuals often say they would prefer green products but do not
necessarily buy them.
Petra Mollet, International Association of Public Transport,
explained that the public transportation sector needs to make the
transportation system more attractive and flexible so that people
have better choices.
Edward Helme, Center for Clean Air Policy, underscored the need
for people to have transportation options, and highlighted the
importance of developing better land-use structures in cities.
Discussion:
Participants discussed the importance of consumer demands when
developing regulation, how competition among companies can be
more effective than regulation, and how information technologies
can reduce transport emissions.
More information:
http://www.wri.org/wri
http://www.acea.be
http://www.atag.org
http://www.iogen.ca
http://www.socialdata.de
http://www.wbcsd.org
http://www.uitp.com
Contact:
Simon Upton
Emil Frankel
Jonathan Pershing
Hermann Meyer
Masayuki Sasamouchi
Charles Nicholson
Wei Zhihong
Prodipto Ghosh
Jeff Passmore
Margot Wallström
Martina Priebe
Werner Brög
Magnus Nilsson
Björn Stigson
Petra Mollet
Edward Helme
Title: Adaptation to climate change risks in Small Island States
Presented by the Delegation of Samoa and the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM)
Barry Smit, University of Gueph, stressed the importance of
supporting the implementation of adaptation activities in the
Pacific and Caribbean regions.
Tuala Sale Tagaloa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
of Samoa, noted that for Caribbean and Pacific regions, climate
change issues relate to individualsÕ rights of existence and
rights to livelihoods. He observed that further financial and
technological assistance is needed to minimize impacts of climate
change-related extreme events in the regions.
Asterio Takesy, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme
(SPREP), explained that SPREP was established in 1993 by Pacific
Governments to ensure sustainable development for present and
future generations, and protect and improve the islandsÕ
environment. He underscored the importance of initial
vulnerability assessments for addressing adaptation measures in
Pacific islands, and noted that climate-related disasters affect
livelihoods and individualsÕ ability to generate income.
Ulric Trotz, CARICOM, described adaptation projects to address
climate change risks in Caribbean small islands and low-lying
coastal States, and said such projects focus on enhancing capacity
building. He said that the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to
Global Climate Change (CPACC) project focuses on carrying out
vulnerability assessments in three pilot countries, namely,
Barbados, Grenada and Guyana. He noted that CPACC identified
several Òno-regretsÓ adaptation options, which take into account
countriesÕ sustainable development priorities.
Taito Nakalevu, SPREP, described a SPREP project on capacity
building for the development of adaptation measures in Pacific
island countries, which aims to improve resilience to climate-
related risks at the national and local levels. He highlighted the
need to mainstream climate change adaptation into national and
sectoral planning and budgeting processes.
Ernest Bani, Vanuatu, described proposed actions to address
vulnerability in the Tegua community, such as: relocating villages
to higher grounds; improving the ability to capture and store
water for daily use; and developing community early warning
systems.
Violet Wulf, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of
Samoa, described SamoaÕs projects for identifying vulnerability
risks and implementing adaptation measures. She said priorities
identified by the communities include: building a seawall to
protect schools and houses, rehabilitating coastal areas;
restoring fresh water springs; installing a proper drainage
system; and raising awareness on climate change and environmental
issues.
Pasha Carruthers, International Environment Advisory Unit of the
Cook Islands, outlined local communitiesÕ proposals to reduce
vulnerability risks, such as: improving access to drinking water;
banning salt mining; and preventing the destruction of coastal
vegetation. She expressed hope that these proposals would be
implemented soon.
Carlos Fuller, Belize, described BelizeÕs challenges relating to
vulnerability assessments, including lack of specific
vulnerability assessment models and bathymetric and topographic
data. He underscored the need for enhancing local capacities to
use vulnerability assessment models.
More information:
http://www.sprep.org.ws
http://www.caribbeanclimate.org
http://www.cpacc.org
http://www.caricom.org
Contact:
Barry Smit
Ulric Trotz
Asterio Takesy
Taito Nakalevu
Carlos Fuller
Title: European greenhouse gas budgets of the biosphere
Presented by the European Community
Riccardo Valentini, University of Tuscia, described CarboEurope, a
cluster of projects that aim to quantify the carbon balance of
Europe. He drew attention to an upcoming workshop on end-user
requirements on spatial and temporal disaggregation of the
greenhouse gas budget.
Ivan Janssens, University of Antwerp, noted that European forests
are a net carbon sink because they are young, but there is
considerable loss of carbon from arable soils due to land use and
management changes. He recommended that climate change mitigation
policies focus on preserving the current sink behavior of EuropeÕs
forests and reducing carbon losses from arable soils.
Pete Smith, University of Aberdeen, drew attention to the enormous
amount of carbon lost by European croplands each year. He
recommended management options for reducing cropland greenhouse
gas fluxes, including more efficient use of animal manure and
sewage sludge, and the use of surplus arable land to plant
woodland and grow biofuels. Smith also noted methane and nitrous
oxide emissions from croplands.
Wolfgang Cramer, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research,
emphasized that ecosystems provide multiple services, are
sensitive to climate and land use change, and can be assessed
quantitatively through a multi-scenario approach. He said
quantitative assessments are necessary for estimating damage and
planning adaptive measures.
Günter Seufert, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC),
discussed the role of the JRC in improving EU reporting of
terrestrial greenhouse gas inventories to the UNFCCC and Kyoto
Protocol. He explained that the JRC focuses on the largest
contributors to uncertainty, including forest and soil sinks, and
methane and nitrous oxide sources and sinks in agriculture. He
also noted JRCÕs work to harmonize and improve methodologies.
Discussion:
Participants discussed the need for more information on full
carbon accounting and uncertainty estimates, especially with
regard to estimates of the net carbon balance for Europe.
Participants also discussed the negative impact of climate change
on the ability of European forests to sequester carbon.
More information:
http://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/public/carboeur/
http://gaia.agraria.unitus.it/ceuroghg/ghg.html
http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int
Contact:
Riccardo Valentini
Ivan Janssens
Pete Smith
Wolfgang Cramer
Günter Seufert
Title: Climate change in the Arctic: Human rights of Inuit
interconnected with the world
Presented by the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Donald Goldberg, CIEL, said that global warming already impacts
the lives and cultures of the Inuit.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), said
that UNFCCC negotiations focus on technical issues rather than
human right issues. She noted that InuitÕs human rights are under
threat due to climate change and that many Inuit will have to
relocate in the near future. She said that Inuit will explore how
to use tools available in international law to address their needs
and human rights.
Watt-Cloutier noted that Inuit hunting practices are not for
enjoyment but for providing food for their families. She said that
Inuit hunters have observed that the weather has become less
predictable and this has negatively influenced their navigation,
resulting in lost lives. She observed that human-induced climate
change is a dangerous reality and is destroying the ecosystems
that Inuit depend upon.
Watt-Cloutier underscored that the Arctic is the barometer of
global environmental health, and said that a report on the Arctic
Climate Impact Assessment will be released in September 2004. She
expressed concern for the future of Arctic communities and their
options to adapt to global warming and other climate change-
related negative impacts. She called for governments to develop
their national economies taking into account the best technologies
to prevent climate change and avoiding short-term destructive
development approaches.
More information:
http://www.inuit.org
http://www.iisd.org/casl/projects/inuitobs.htm
Contact:
Donald Goldberg
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Title: Emissions trading: The financial sector perspective
Presented by the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance
Initiative (UNEP FI) Climate Change Working Group
Paul Clements-Hunt, UNEP FI, described his organization as a
voluntary private-public partnership between UNEP and the private
financial sector that aims to identify and disseminate best
practices and focuses on sustainability issues.
Thomas Loster, Munich Re Group, highlighted the Climate Change
Working GroupÕs achievements for 2003, including: raising
awareness; conducting dialogues such as the UNFCCC insurance
workshops; and strengthening partnerships.
Werner Schnappauf, Minister of the Environment of Bavaria, said
that the risk of natural disasters is rapidly increasing and
stated that Bavaria welcomed emissions trading.
Sascha Lafeld, Dresdner Bank, said the international market for
greenhouse gas emission certificates is highly fragmented and that
a secondary market is emerging. He noted that risks resulting from
emission trading schemes include those relating to cash flow,
market perception and capital cost.
Mark Way, Swiss Re, explained that mitigation and adaptation
measures for climate change require new products and applications,
such as natural-perils covers, insurance and finance solutions for
direct methods of reduction, and risk transfer solutions for
ÒindirectÓ reduction methods.
Nigel Baker, Swiss Re, outlined Swiss ReÕs greenhouse gas risk
solutions, including: asset management, including an eco-
portfolio; reinsurance and insurance, such as risk management,
delivery guarantees and credit guarantees; and project finance.
Andrew Dlugolecki, Andlug Consulting, highlighted the importance
of the finance sectorÕs activities to promote adaptation through
actions including integrating climatic events with disaster
management. He also underscored the need for bolder climate policy
action and mitigation measures by the financial sector.
Discussion:
Participants raised questions about harmonizing emission trading
regulations and about the degree to which companies actually
prioritize climate change in their business decisions.
More information:
http://www.swissre.com
http://www.cdproject.net
http://www.unepfi.net
Contact:
Paul Clements-Hunt
Thomas Loster
Werner Schnappauf
Sascha Lafeld
Mark Way
Nigel Baker
Andrew Dlugolecki
Title: Linking climate change responses and development planning:
Challenges and opportunities
Presented by the OECD
Kiyo Akasaka, OECD, introduced the Development and Climate Change
Project, which was initiated by the OECD Environment and
Development Cooperation Directorates. He drew attention to the
ProjectÕs case studies in Bangladesh, Egypt, Fiji, Nepal, Tanzania
and Uruguay.
Shardul Agrawala, OECD, explained that the Project aims to examine
the synergies and trade-offs of mainstreaming climate change
responses into development planning and assistance, and focuses on
the links between climate change, natural resource management and
economic development in developing countries, with a primary focus
on adaptation.
Noting that climate change increases glacial lake-related hazards,
John Reynolds, Reynolds Geo-Sciences, emphasized that
vulnerability and/or hazards must be reduced to decrease risk. He
stressed the need to consider glacial risk and water resource
management together, and recommended a Pan-Himalayan strategy to
achieve transnational cooperation.
Presenting the results of the Bangladesh case study, Ahsan Ahmed,
Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, outlined the countryÕs key areas of
vulnerability to climate change, particularly those relating to
water resources, forest ecosystems, human health and agriculture.
He said donor assistance strategies for Bangladesh tend to focus
on natural hazards rather than climate risks.
Daniel Martino, Carbosur, noted that agriculture is responsible
for 80% of UruguayÕs greenhouse gas emissions. He identified the
need for: a strong national CDM institutional and regulatory
framework in Uruguay; promotion of renewable energy; and adoption
of no tillage agricultural practices.
Maarten van Aalst, Utrecht University, outlined the results of a
study showing that climate change-related risks are rarely
integrated into national planning and donor strategies. He
identified the need for increased attention from high-level policy
makers in developing countries. He also recommended that donor
agencies reduce sectoral segmentation and integrate climate risk
management into development plans and projects.
More information:
http://www.oecd.org/env/cc
Contact:
Kiyo Akasaka
Shardul Agrawala
John Reynolds
Ahsan Ahmed
Daniel Martino
Maarten van Aalst
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) on the side is a special
publication of the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD) in cooperation with the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. This
issue has been written by Fiona Koza , Karen
Alvarenga de Oliveira , Kaori Kawarabayashi
, Catherine Ganzleben and
Lauren Flejzor . The Digital Editor is David
Fernau the photographers are David Fernau and
Leila Mead and the online assistant is Diego
Noguera . The Director of IISD Reporting Services
is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI . Funding for
publication of ENB on the side at UNFCCC COP-9 is provided by the
UNFCCC Secretariat. The opinions expressed in ENB on the side are
those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of
IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENB on the side may be used in
non-commercial publications only and only with appropriate
academic citation. For permission to use this material in
commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting
Services at . Electronic versions of issues of ENB
on the side from COP-9 can be found on the Linkages website at:
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop9/enbots/.